Georgia Tech began the process of banging off the rust of a half-week layoff with a Thursday morning practice at Burges High School that was their first in El Paso.

"It went well," coach Paul Johnson said. "I don't know about sharp -- we've been off for four days -- but we eased back into it."

"We're trying to get guys back in shape, get back in the swing of things," said guard Omoregie Uzzi, an All-ACC selection. "I felt like we picked up pretty well."

The team is dealing with a significant injury, as leading tackler, safety Isaiah Johnson, is out.

The Yellow Jackets will have a 3 p.m. closed practice today at Burges.

For starters

Sophomore Shaquille Olajuwon Mason (his parents are basketball fans) made his first career start in last year's Hyundai Sun Bowl when Uzzi was hurt. He has now settled into the left guard spot as the regular starter.

"Last year taught me how to grow up fast and get ready to come back to a second year starting," Mason said. "It was a great experience, my first college start in a bowl game.

"It makes me look forward to this game."

Slump busters

Georgia Tech's bowl streak is now at 16 seasons, the fourth longest active bowl streak in the nation. Florida State has been to 31 consecutive bowls, Florida to 22 and Virginia Tech to 20.

The downside is that the Yellow Jackets have lost the last seven, including the 30-27 overtime loss to Utah in the Sun Bowl last year.

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That streak is long enough that even the players have lost track of it. Linebacker Quay shawn Nealy referred to it as "15 or 16 years."

"We want to break that," he said.

Bret Bloomquist may be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; 546-6359. Follow him on Twitter @bretbloomquist